The Legend of the Badge

I have been no less than OBSESSED with collecting Junior Ranger badges from national park sites for the past few years, which is probably an obvious statement to anyone reading this blog. I have badges or patches from the following parks:

SF Maritime
Denali
Arches
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef
Grand Canyon
White Sands NM
Guadalupe
Apostle Islands NL
Acadia
Ft. Sumpter NM

This blog post is an attempt to explain this obsession, and also serve as a starting point of blogging again, because it has been too long!

How did this obsession start, you may ask? It is a long and winding tale. Many say that the obsession originated from the fabled 2009 visit to Wind Cave National Park Visitor Center. It was here that I tried on a Junior Ranger hat, and got a rushing feeling of power and responsibility (can't you tell by this picture?).

Legend has it that I received my first badge from a park that I do not even know the name of-- some maritime park in San Francisco in spring of 2010. Looking back on the moment now, I recall the frenzy of filling out the word search and of writing a poem about the sea or something... all for the end result... one shiny badge, and a lifetime of dedication to the protection of our public land's cultural and natural history.

Yes, much focus and dedication is necessary.

While filling out the booklet is a large part of the process, we must not forget the real live rangers. In the process of weeding out which Junior Ranger programs are the most advanced, it is evident that programs that require you to interview park rangers and attend interpretive programs are of the greatest caliber. I have placed Ranger Kathryn's program on the highest pedestal of them all, as its lore has trickled down through the ages as the best ranger program of all time. She used the greatest symphonies to describe the geologic phases in Canyonlands National Park-- a brilliant pairing that earned her our undying devotion in the fall of 2012.

Interviews, fact-checking, program-attending, and word-searching... the process can be repetitive, but the dedication pays off. The last step to become a Junior Ranger is to solemnly take the pledge, with your right hand raised, often in front of throngs of other park visitors.

As a Junior Ranger, I promise to teach others about what I learned today, explore other parks and historic sites, and help preserve and protect these places so future generations can enjoy them. 


Ah, such powerful words. Here D-Rod and I, after a harrowing journey through the Denali Wilderness,  repeat this oft-told sentence with such reverence that is only reserved for events of utmost importance. This pledge earned us applause from the entire Visitor Center.

The ultimate pledge ceremony occurred with the ultimate ranger (Ranger Kathryn, who else?), as she adeptly photo-bombed the shot of my Junior Ranger Pledge. This earned her bonus cool points, and spurred me on my quest to pursue MORE Junior Ranger badges, because you never know what can happen.

While I'll continue on my quest to get a large number of Junior Ranger Badges (Until I'm very much obviously and awkwardly way too old to do so), the best badges are earned together. See, look how much fun you can have when you fill out packets aimed at 5-12 year olds with other twenty-somethings? So. Much. Fun.

Who is with me??
I still have a long ways to go before my journey to ultimate Junior Ranger-dom is complete.
11 park units down, 390 to go.